Take part in research
Our vision is a world without motor neuron disease (MND) and for decades we’ve been investing in cutting-edge research to help ‘make time count’ against MND.
The largest clinical trial in UK history
We are a key funder of MND-SMART, having invested £1.5 million in 2018 to establishing this ground-breaking clinical drug trial, which aims to find treatments that can slow, stop or reverse progression of motor neuron disease. We have now committed a further £2 million to make sure the trial can continue to run until 2028.
The UK-wide trial has been made possible by our generous supporters. Its design allows multiple drug treatments to be tested at the same time, speeding up the process and reducing the number of people with MND who would be assigned to the ‘placebo’ group.
It has started with ‘repurposed’ drugs which are already approved and on the market for use in other conditions. This means all the safety testing and development work has been done, saving time and money. MND-SMART is designed to run continuously for years to come.
As of January 2024, there are more than 660 participants taking part across 22 sites around the UK.
Your views matter
The views and opinions of people living with MND are at the heart of our work. We are incorporating the lived experiences of people affected by MND, gathered through our surveys, to inform this work.
If you would like to get in touch with us about our funded research, please contact research@mndscotland.org.uk.
Other ways to get involved
Care-MND
There are several research projects involving people with MND taking place in Scotland at any given time. If you are interested in participating, you can register your interest on the CARE-MND platform and discuss this with your MND Nurse Specialist.
Opportunities to get involved
- Participation in research projects – occasionally opportunities arise to participate in MND-related research projects in the UK
- Review research funding applications – once or twice a year we have opportunities for people affected by MND to help us by providing ‘lay reviews’ on applications we receive for research funding
To find out about these opportunities, please sign up for the MND Scotland mailing by filling out our form below. You can also drop us an email to involvement@mndscotland.org.uk so we can ensure you are the first to hear about research related news.
Clinical trials happening throughout the UK
There are a number of MND clinical trials taking place in the UK at any one time. Some of them are small and regionally located, which means they often only accept people who are local to the clinic running the trial. Some are UK-wide and have recruitments centres in Scotland. Each trial will have its own eligibility requirements.
MND-SMART
This is run by the University of Edinburgh, it is a platform trial that will test a number of different drugs. It is UK wide and available to most people with MND in Scotland.
Lighthouse II trial
This trial is run by King’s College London which is testing an antiviral drug. There is now a recruitment centre in Edinburgh. Recruitment is scheduled to end in Spring 2024.
UK MND Clinical Studies Group
A website that lists all the MND clinical trials currently recruiting in the UK. Here you will find information about recruitment centres and the eligibility requirements for each trial. Please be aware that you may not be able to access many of these trials because of geographical location or eligibility requirements.
For researchers
Are you an MND researcher? You can help us create a world without MND and improve the lives of those living with the illness today.
Find out more about our funding applications and how you can help make time count.
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